Improved magnetic gage for steam-boilers



F. A. HOYT. MAGNETIC GAGE.

No. 27,498. Patented Mar. 18, 1860.

UNITED STATES.

PA ENT OFFICE.

"FRANCIS snow, or BOSTON, M ssnoHUsnrtrs. v

' IMPROVED MAGNETIC GAGE F'ORST-EAM-BOlLE RS.

Specification forming part of Iietters Patent No. 27,498, dated March 13, 1860.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, FRANCIS A-..HOYT,- of

Boston, in the. county of" Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, hEhVQkillYQHtd an Improved Magnet-ic'Gage for Determining the Height of Water in a Steam-Boiler; and Ido hereby declare that the same is fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 denotes a front elevation, and Fig; 2 a longitudinal section, of my improved mag- I netic gage as applied to the head of a steamhoiler. Fig. 3 is a rear view of the box for carrying the front arm of the float-lever and the bearings of the fulcrum of such arm. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the armature-chamber, itbcing takenthrough the pinion thereofl The nature of .1ny invention consists in the arrangement of the levcr arm box or .cham:

her, the indicator, steam-colu1nn, and case, or the latter and the float-lever together, and relatively to the boiler'head or end 5 also, in the application of the bearings of the'fioat lever-fulcrumsupports to the lever-arm box, so as to be supported thereby independently of the boiler-head; also, in an improved arrangement of the magnet and its armature with reference to the steam-space of the boiler; also, in'the combination of a separate indicator or indexpointer with the magnet in-such manner as to extend beyond the latter.

7 In constructing magnetic gages for indicat--. in g the altitude of water in a boiler it has been customary to place the magnet either within the steam-space of the boiler or in a chamber so connected therewith thatthe steam from such space could have free access thereto. A stuffin-g-box betweenthe steam-space and magnetchamber, and to encompass'the shaft of the magnet, is seriously objectionable, on account of the great friction that it produces on the shaft of themagnet. It will be seen that under the said arrangement of the magnet the steam has had free access to it. When so in contact with the steam the magnet is liable to become oxidated and demagnetized, or to lose its power, and, besides, it is so inclosed as to render it very difficult or inconvenient to remagnetize it.

In carrying out my invention I not only apply an armature within the steam-space of the boiler, orin a separate chamber communieating freely with such steam-space, but I ,place the magnet in another chamber, "entirely separate from the first chamber or the steam- -space of the boiler, and I apply the armature and the magnet to separate shafts or spindles. The armature-shaft I so apply to' the float within the boiler/chat the rise and fall of the water may by its movements of the float produce a rotary movement of the armature-shaft and armature. Furthermore, I arrange the armature and the magnet in such close proximity on. opposite sides of the uuperforated partition separating the magnet and armature chambers that the attraction of the magnet for the armature may cause the magnet to be rotated within its chamber in correspondence with an y rotary movement of the armature.

' In the drawings, A exhibits the head of a T steam-boiler or steam-generator, B, such head being supposed to be arranged .in a vertical plane, and the boiler to extend horizontally I therefrom. Through the said head I make an aperture, (3, for the introduction \ofthe float into the boiler and the reception. of the projecting posts a a of a oap-boir, D, such parts a a serving as bearings for the support of the fulcrum b of a float-lever, E, furnished with an elongated float, F. This float-lever is to project from the boiler-head horizontally, or. 'thereabout, the float being made small in diameter and quite long, as shown in the drawings, in order that it may be passed through end of the boiler when such boiler is of the hori' zont'alkind. From this box a hollow column,

G, or its equivalent, extends upward, opens into, and is surmounted by aclose armaturechamber, H, having a. cylindrical or other proper form. Within this chamber the arma ture I is" placed and fixed on one end of a horizontal shaft, K, duly supported by a bracket, L, and carrying a pinion, M. The said pinion engages witha toothed rack, N, carried by a rod, 0, whose lower end is join-ted'to the 2 I am nes front end oit'h'e shorter arm of the float-lever. In front of the armature-chamber, and separated from it by an unperforated partition, 0, isanother index and magnet chamber, P, earrying a divided are or index, mane a magnet, S, the axle or shaft (1 of the magnet being arranged in line withthat of the armatureshaft and supported by a bracket, T. 'From this'magnet an indicator or index-pointer, U, may project laterally, if made of iron or steel;

. but should it be constructed. of brassor a metal notmagnetizable, it may project longitudinally from the. magnet.

It will readily be seen that should theindex-pointer be made of steel, and extended longitudinally from the magneg it would become magnetized, and so form part ofthe magnet asv to carry one pole too far beyond the armature to lie-moved by it by thealtractive power of the-magnetic force.

Inmy'con'strnction of the gage the indicator-arc and magnet-chamber can be made of a diameter much larger 'than'that of the armature-chamber, and thus aflord the advantage of 'a large ar'c of'divisions with; a small armature chamb'er, thus materially decreasing the weight of the apparatus to what it. would he were we to" make the"armatniechamb'er of an:

diameter equal to or aboutequal to thatjof :the magnet and index chamberr This is a met- 7 ter of importance when the invention. is ap- 'plied. to a locomotive-engine. To lnsure correet operation of the magnet, all the parts of the apparatus, except the magnet and its arnet and its index pointer, whereby the latter will be made to measure or point out on its'are of .divlsions the degree or amount of move'- ment' of the float, and so asto indicate the 1 height of'water-in the boiler.

I lay no claim to the arrangement constitut- 3 ing the invention covered by Letters Patent of the United States numbered-4,288.5

In my arrangement of the magnet it is al-' ways in sight and out of the demagnetizing and oxidizing influence of the steam of the boiler; and, furthermore, it is so-situated as to be capable of being easily touched with a magnet or remagnetized in case its attractive-power at any time or'from any cause may be diminished.

What I claim as my invention is- 1.. The arrangement of the lever-arm box D, the indicator, steam column and case, and the float-lever and float, together and relatively to the boiler-head, substantially as described.

' 2. The-application of thefulcrum-bearings to the lever-arm box, and so'as to be movable therewith and separate. from the. boiler-head.

3. My'improved arrangement of the mag-, net and its armature with reference to the interior or steam space of the boiler, the said arraiigement'consisting not only in placing the magnet in an indicating or other proper cham- 'ber ent irely insulated from or having no connection with the said 7 steamspace or the armature-chamber, so that nosteam can pass therefrom into the-magnet-chamber, but in" arranging the armature with-respectto'fthe magnet and applying the float to the armature sofas to operate it,sn bstantially in man-- ner as'described. v,

4. Combining a separate index-pointer with the magnet so as to extend therefrom, as spec! fied.

FRA CIS A. HOYT. Witnesses: I R H. EDDY,

F. P. HALE, J r. 

